History of diplomatic relations
Bulgaria first recognised the Republic of Estonia on 20 May 1922 and recognised the restoration of independence on 26 August 1991. Diplomatic relations were re-established on 10 September 1991.
From 2006 to 2012, the Estonian Embassy in Sofia was active in Bulgaria. After the closing of the embassy, we covered Bulgaria from Tallinn and, from 2017 onward, from Bucharest. Bulgaria had an embassy in Tallinn from 2008 to 2011. After the embassy was closed, Bulgaria covered Estonia from Helsinki and, from 2021 onward, from Sofia.
Estonian ambassadors
- Aune Kotli, 2023 – today, residing in Bucharest
- Ingrid Kressel Vinciguerra 2019–2023
- Ants Frosch 2017–2019, residing in Bucharest
- Toomas Kukk 2011–2012, 2012–2017, residing in Tallinn, Estonia
- Rein Oidekivi 2007–2011
- Ants Frosch 2006–2007, residing in Warsaw
Bulgarian ambassadors
- Selver Halil, 2021 – today, residing in Sofia
- Martin Ivanov 2016–2020, residing in Helsinki
- Liubomir Todorov 2013–2016, residing in Helsinki
- Petio Petev 2009–2011
- Plamen Bonchev 2006–2010, residing in Helsinki
Bilateral relations
To Estonia
- January 2024 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna on an official visit
- October 2020 – President Rumen Radev at the Three Seas Initiative Summit
- April 2018 – Parliament Speaker Tsveta Karayancheva in Tallinn for the EU Speakers’ Conference
- September 2017 – Prime Minister Boyko Borisov at the Digital Summit
- June 2016 – Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva
To Bulgaria
- May 2018 – Prime Minister Jüri Ratas at the Western Balkans Summit
- June 2016 – Kalle Palling, Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament)
- April 2016 – Marina Kaljurand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a ministerial meeting of the Council of Europe
- January 2014 – working visit by Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic
- January 2011 – Marko Pomerants, Minister of the Interior
- August 2010 – Ene Ergma in Varna at the meeting of the women speakers of EU national parliaments
Agreements concluded between Estonia and Bulgaria can be found in Riigi Teataja (in Estonian).
For detailed information, see the application of Statistics Estonia.
In 2022, Estonia celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Bulgaria with the street photography exhibition called 100 Years of Street Photography in Estonia at the Crystal Garden Park in Sofia and Burgas. The event was organised by the Dokfoto Centre of Juhan Kuus.
Last updated: 25.05.2024
